As Major League Baseball’s August 1 trade line impends, both the Democrat and Republican parties are considering their prospects heading into the main event of the 2024 presidential election. From their establishment to their grassroots, both parties are considering whether to stick with their 2020 nominees or make a trade that will maximize their chances of keeping or recapturing the White House.
Last week we examined the Democrat Party’s prospects for making a late primary season trade of President Joe Biden for Governor Gavin Newsom (D) to be their 2024 nominee. The conclusion was Biden had clearly lost his fastball and was relying on ineffective junk; ergo, the Golden State Gavin, (a crafty lefty who has been long accused of doctoring the ball with hair gel from his oversized hatband) would head their ticket. So, too, there is the distinct possibility Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D) would be included in the trade as well to buoy their bullpen, especially given how current Democratic closer, Vice-President Kamala Harris, has proven her capacity to turn her every appearance into a dumpster fire.
Now, let us examine the Republican Party’s prospects for a similar trade of former President Donald Trump, the current frontrunner, or will the Grand Old Party stand pat?
In one of the great political ironies in American history, presently it appears that the party that won the 2020 presidential election will trade its successful nominee (now president) for a better candidate; contrarily, the party that lost the 2020 election (by hook or crook, depending on one’s point of view) seems intent on re-nominating the incumbent candidate who failed to be re-elected president.
It cannot be argued that Mr. Trump has a faithful following among the GOP’s grassroots, including members of the old Reform Party and Tea Party he has brought into the party’s fold. But it also cannot be argued that Mr. Trump’s bump in the primary polls also has had an unwelcome helping hand – Democrats.
Such support stems from the Democrats’ belief that Mr. Trump is the easiest GOP nominee to defeat. Well, if by “easy” you mean the candidate the Democrats spent the last seven years weaponizing the police powers of the government, politicizing justice, and with the help of a servile, abetting media, spreading the Russia-gate and other BIG LIES to seditiously destroy his presidency and continue to harry him as he again pursues the presidency. For the Democrats, attacking Mr. Trump is a win-win proposition: their base wants Mr. Trump behind bars; and their establishment wants him there – but only after he has been renominated as the GOP’s nominee and defeated in the 2024 general election.
In the past, a politician being a target of law enforcement was considered unhelpful to being elected. Not so with Mr. Trump. With every new accusation and indictment by the Democrats, the GOP rallies around Mr. Trump, who has always been blessed in his enemies. Well, his enemies are delivering for him “bigly.” In sum, the Democrats are being rewarded for their past and persistent perfidy in persecuting Mr. Trump. After all, only a Never-Trumper can feel anything less than outrage at the Democrats’ contemptible, corrupt sedition and persecution; and sympathy for Mr. Trump – or any citizen – so hounded.
And this is why the Democrats are by no means done harming and helping Mr. Trump. This is not mere speculation. Or did you think former Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) January 6 Committee was little more than a taxpayer exercise in opposition research? And its bitter fruits are going to be served up to the electorate throughout 2024 and, likely, beyond. Further, the latest charges against Mr. Trump will likely be conveniently timed for maximal political detriment during the presidential general election.
Equally, as Mr. Trump tacks left of center in his diatribes against his GOP challengers, notably Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis (R), as well as their supporters, the media and the Democrats are gleefully amplifying this “Republican on Republican violence.” This not only helps Mr. Trump. It also helps sully any GOP challenger who may defeat Trump for the nomination. Bluntly, the Democrats and media are more than willing to abet Mr. Trump as he does their work for them.
Further, as they interloped during the 2022 GOP primaries, the Democrats will crash the Republican primaries with cash and votes not only to help nominate Mr. Trump but his most allegedly extreme supporters running for other offices. Their goal is as simple as it is unprincipled: help nominate the weakest GOP candidate. In Mr. Trump’s case, this will become most evident in states with “open primaries,” where voters can vote in any party primary. (And, yes, the GOP has done this in past Democrat primaries, as well).
In consequence, any GOP challenger to Mr. Trump must campaign against both him and the Democrat cabal covertly (and cruelly) promoting him. Between Mr. Trump and his Democrat tormentors/abettors, is there even enough oxygen left in the room for a Republican presidential nomination contender to take a breath and find a voice that will spur the GOP to trade their current front-runner for a new standard bearer?
It is not beyond the realm of possibility, as we shall see next week. True, it will be past the MLB trade deadline; thus, we will be scouring the GOP waiver wire to see whether any presently underperforming presidential prospects may ultimately be claimed by Republicans to relieve Mr. Trump.